Paul Harris was the founder of Rotary. In 1905, he and a handful of associates started meeting for lunch once a week. To share the workload, they agreed to rotate the hosting responsibilities.
Today, the small organization they founded has grown to 46,000 clubs with 1.2 million members in some 161 countries. In 1975, Suffield Rotary began recognizing members for outstanding service above self.
In 1992 we began also recognizing members of the community for their contributions. Since then, we have honored 90 people. Included in that were five husband and wife couples, including Jay and Johanne Presser, Jack and Maryann Muska and Frank and Linda DiGennaro. Service can indeed be a family affair.
This year Suffield Rotary honors Beth Chafetz and Natalie Donais.
As befitting the legacy of Paul Harris, Beth Chafetz has distinguished herself professionally and as a member and leader of a number of civic groups and organizations.
Photos by Amy Miner
Don Miner presents Beth Chafetz the Paul Harris Award.
Beth was a long-time middle school teacher in Suffield. During that time, she ran the drama program for 10 years, producing a play every year.
In the 2006-07 school year, she was named Suffield’s Teacher of the Year. Beth was a Girl Scout leader for 12 years and has been actively involved in numerous community organizations. She has been president of the Friends of Kent Memorial Library for 10 years.
Recently she was interim director of the library for about six months as they searched for a permanent director.
She has been the Editor-in-Chief for our town newspaper, The Suffield Observer, for nearly 10 years.
Beth is also a very accomplished singer. She sings with the Springfield Symphony Chorus. Perhaps her crowning musical achievement was singing in Carnegie Hall in New York.
In her private life, Beth has been married to Mel for 55 years.
When they got married, Beth took the step of converting to Judaism. She has been active on the executive board of Sinai Temple in Longmeadow.
For all of this, and probably more, Rotary is proud to recognize Beth as a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow.
Generally, Rotary also recognizes a member of the club – usually someone who has contributed significantly of their time and energy for the betterment of the club and its activities.
This year is no exception as we honor Natalie Donais.
Natalie Donais received the Paul Harris Award.
She served a year as vice president. When the previous president resigned early due to a job transfer, she stepped in as acting president several months early. In addition to serving the current year, she has signed on for one more year.
She is our Energizer Bunny for all the effort she has put into the job and all the Rotary projects she has helped shepherd.
In addition, Natalie has been a Girl Scout leader and Boy Scout leader. She was also a Sunday school teacher at First Church.
Professionally, Natalie has distinguished herself in education, serving 35 years in special ed, as a teacher and administrator in several towns, concluding in Suffield in 2018.
Natalie has also picked up a retirement job in the Second Chance Shop thrift store.
In Rotary, Natalie is what is known as a legacy.
Her father is still an active Rotarian at age 89, currently residing in Maine. Before joining Suffield Rotary, she belonged to the Windsor Locks club.
Natalie and her husband Rich have three children, including a set of twins, and have just added another grandchild.
We are proud to recognize Natalie Donais as a Paul Harris Fellow.